Sumo Wrestler Kirishima Clinches Ozeki Return

Sakai, Osaka Pref., March 25 (Jiji Press)–Sumo wrestler Kirishima will regain his ozeki status, the sport’s second highest rank, after capturing his third championship in the March grand tournament that ended Sunday, the Japan Sumo Association decided on Wednesday. The decision was made unanimously at an extraordinary board session of the association and a “banzuke” ranking list formation meeting for the next grand tournament starting on May 10. The 29-year-old wrestler, born Byambachuluun Lkhagvasuren in Mongolia, belongs to the Otowayama stable. He will be promoted from sekiwake, the third-highest rank. Senior association officials delivered news of the promotion to Kirishima and his stablemaster, Otowayama, at the stable’s accommodation in the city of Sakai in Osaka Prefecture. “I’m honored to accept (the promotion),” Kirishima said after receiving the notice of his promotion alongside his stablemaster. “I will strive to reach greater heights.” Hampered by a neck injury, Kirishima was demoted after competing in the ozeki rank for six tournaments from the July tournament in 2023. He has since regained his form, winning 34 bouts over three tournaments from last year’s November tournament, clearing the informal 33-win benchmark for promotion. Each tournament runs for 15 consecutive days and each wrestler usually has a match each day. Usually, an ozeki-ranked wrestler is demoted after posting “makekoshi” losing records in two consecutive tournaments. Under this “kadoban” system, which has been in place since the July 1969 tournament, a special provision allows a demoted wrestler to reclaim the ozeki rank by winning 10 or more bouts in the tournament immediately after being demoted to sekiwake. Kirishima’s return to Ozeki did not rely on this provision, however, making him only the third wrestler to achieve this, after Kaiketsu and Terunofuji. Endorsing his promotion, officials also credited the quality of his sumo in the latest tournament. END [Copyright The Jiji Press, Ltd.]